Hit and Runs

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I have been trying in vain to come up with a solution that solves, averts, or evens the playing field without hurting innocent bystanders.

Best ideas so far

1) driver education, we have to try and make it a more serious matter for teenage minds everywhere (I am not just talking about the young ones) to obtain and keep their drivers licence. There are cultural trends which advocate racing on the streets, and the regard of the streets as their territory. Somehow this needs to be fixed as well.

2) law enforcement! which is a joke! Some people are given too many chances to hurt people with their inconsiderate habits. Some of the judges out there are criminals!

3) vehicle safety via blackbox-esque receiver/transmitter communicating with a city grid, which has endless possiblities for traffic light timing, city street development, warning systems for appraching dangerous conditions, and vehicle tracking involved in collisions or even reckless driving.

4) if none of these improve or are implimented, there are many options ranging from random stonings of recklessly driven vehicles (not in a manor to bring animosity to your fellow cyclists), and ranging to carrying a weapon and solving the problems of reckless drivers on a more permanent level. (in a way as not to compromise the safety of those nearby, or escalate the situation as a whole, which pretty much makes this a non-option, though it is really attractive!!!) I carry a digital camera, and pepper spray seems like a good option for many reasons including other animals.


I have been hit three times, twice a hit and run, and once a mob of lying family/friends ended the court case. I predict this will become more of a problem as the population gets denser, lets clearly advocate what will make us safer, and end reckless/irresponsible/inconsiderate driving.

Jacob.

try strapping a 12 gauge to your back
or a huge mother honkin sword
make sure it is visible and you will probally get hit less

try strapping a 12 gauge to your back
or a huge mother honkin sword
make sure it is visible and you will probally get hit less
Your right, then instead of nice people on bikes, we now seem like the Italian Mafia and have a strewn record of Weapons Violations. ;)

I have been trying in vain to come up with a solution that solves, averts, or evens the playing field without hurting innocent bystanders.

Best ideas so far

1) driver education, we have to try and make it a more serious matter for teenage minds everywhere (I am not just talking about the young ones) to obtain and keep their drivers licence. There are cultural trends which advocate racing on the streets, and the regard of the streets as their territory. Somehow this needs to be fixed as well.

2) law enforcement! which is a joke! Some people are given too many chances to hurt people with their inconsiderate habits. Some of the judges out there are criminals!

3) vehicle safety via blackbox-esque receiver/transmitter communicating with a city grid, which has endless possiblities for traffic light timing, city street development, warning systems for appraching dangerous conditions, and vehicle tracking involved in collisions or even reckless driving.

4) if none of these improve or are implimented, there are many options ranging from random stonings of recklessly driven vehicles (not in a manor to bring animosity to your fellow cyclists), and ranging to carrying a weapon and solving the problems of reckless drivers on a more permanent level. (in a way as not to compromise the safety of those nearby, or escalate the situation as a whole, which pretty much makes this a non-option, though it is really attractive!!!) I carry a digital camera, and pepper spray seems like a good option for many reasons including other animals.


I have been hit three times, twice a hit and run, and once a mob of lying family/friends ended the court case. I predict this will become more of a problem as the population gets denser, lets clearly advocate what will make us safer, and end reckless/irresponsible/inconsiderate driving.

Jacob.
I got in an accident while commuting to work in Tampa. I was on a main thoroughfare, and a woman pulled right out in front of me. I ran right into the side of her car, and ended up lying on the ground, near the curb with my totalled bicycle. The woman opened her car door, looked directly at me, and then drove off. I was too stunned to get a license number.

Funny but in the heat of the moment you always seem to forget to get the license number. I've had several incidents with vehicles & no matter how much I tell myself to look at licence plates beforehand, when the time comes you don't. Once they pull off, then you remember & wish you had.

I carry a magic maker & keep it within easy reach, so I can write it on me if I have to.

Funny but in the heat of the moment you always seem to forget to get the license number. I've had several incidents with vehicles & no matter how much I tell myself to look at licence plates beforehand, when the time comes you don't. Once they pull off, then you remember & wish you had.

I carry a magic maker & keep it within easy reach, so I can write it on me if I have to. I recently had the same thing happen to me recently where a man pulled out in front of me and I ended up seeing him soon enough to slam on my breaks and slide sideways into the side of his BMW SUV. Ouch. I was stunned too but I took off after him and caught him at the next red light where I insisted he get out of the car which he didn't he just started to take off again. I was pissed so I reached out and let the nice steel ring I wear leave a nice gouging scratch down the side of his SUV. That will cost him at least a good 3 grand to have repaired.

You to can get one of these wonderful rings at Swatch.com. Its called So Much and its a mans ring but a woman could wear one too. It paid for itself that day. Though over all I wouldn't suggest doing what I did. I imagine I would have been in trouble if cops had come but I figure you could just say that you wanted to make sure you could identify the car later on.... Which it would do I guess.

I saw a biker recently kick the crap out of the side of someones car apparently they bumped him pulling up the white line on the intersection. He went ballistic and started kicking the side of the car. The driver did not get out of that car either. I'm guessing most bikers get that angry feeling after so many near misses.

I recently had the same thing happen to me recently where a man pulled out in front of me and I ended up seeing him soon enough to slam on my breaks and slide sideways into the side of his BMW SUV. Ouch. I was stunned too but I took off after him and caught him at the next red light where I insisted he get out of the car which he didn't he just started to take off again. I was pissed so I reached out and let the nice steel ring I wear leave a nice gouging scratch down the side of his SUV. That will cost him at least a good 3 grand to have repaired.

You to can get one of these wonderful rings at Swatch.com. Its called So Much and its a mans ring but a woman could wear one too. It paid for itself that day. Though over all I wouldn't suggest doing what I did. I imagine I would have been in trouble if cops had come but I figure you could just say that you wanted to make sure you could identify the car later on.... Which it would do I guess.

I saw a biker recently kick the crap out of the side of someones car apparently they bumped him pulling up the white line on the intersection. He went ballistic and started kicking the side of the car. The driver did not get out of that car either. I'm guessing most bikers get that angry feeling after so many near misses.
I think you're asking for trouble with these kinds of actions. I would just get the license plate. The citizens of America are in love with cars and guns. That's a dangerous combination for an irate cyclist.

I think you're asking for trouble with these kinds of actions. I would just get the license plate. The citizens of America are in love with cars and guns. That's a dangerous combination for an irate cyclist.
Thats probably a good bit of advice. I think the gun thing is over exagerated by the media in my opinion. Out of all the people I know who own guns none take them with them in their cars. Typically most Americans believe in the system enough that they will wait for the police to arrive. I had kind of a temper tantrum that day and took it out on his SUV. I would not do it again.

You may think this is crazy, but while commuting I actually practice memorizing the license plate numbers of cars that pass me close, or cut me off. If figure the practice will make it more likely that I will remember in a real situation. I try and remember the make and model of the car as well.

I've only been in one hit and run. A Grand Cherokee cut across the road in front of me, and I hit the side shoulder first. While I was lying on the road I saw it slow to a stop, wait a few seconds, then drive away. I didn't get the plate number because my glasses had been knocked off. I did however get to hear the satisfying sound of crumpling sheet metal on impact. Though bruised up a bit, I was fortunately able to ride home. At least I know that it was still pretty expensive for the driver.

You may think this is crazy, but while commuting I actually practice memorizing the license plate numbers of cars that pass me close, or cut me off. If figure the practice will make it more likely that I will remember in a real situation. I try and remember the make and model of the car as well.
I do the same drill. I figure if worst comes to worst, I can get the info hypnotised out of me...

When I got hit, a mob formed, they had the guys licence number and weren't letting him go anywhere. In fact I had to diffuse the situation, explaining that I was fine.

It must have looked spectacular, I went over the car and off the back quarter panel. I saw it coming so i kind of 'bunny hopped' because I didn't want to go under the car.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. The only way to deal with this is to get it on camera like this girl (cutie) did. Even with the video this s__thead still claimed she hits him. Well, technically she did but only because he swerved into her lane.

the video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpkjHQO0t5o&search=motorcycle%20crash

her site detailing the incident and the equipments she used..
http://www.smoothcurvesracing.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=304

mmmm a few questions

if i may

and dont get shirty its just a question and my valueless opinion


were you wearin any safety gear ie. lights, reflective vest (even in the daytime yes)
how much of the lane did you have ( the only reason i ask is that in AUS you are allowed teh whole lane if it is too dangerous to ride 1.0m off teh kerb face so i find it easier to take teh whole lane many cyclists will atest to this it is safer i assure you cars will take you alot more seriously
were you riding on a major highway (once again because it aus particularly in NSW its not allowed
other than that unfortunate but there needs to be some american lobby group like we have here that can organise protests lobby local members and such.

cheers

mmmm a few questions

if i may

and dont get shirty its just a question and my valueless opinion


were you wearin any safety gear ie. lights, reflective vest (even in the daytime yes)
how much of the lane did you have ( the only reason i ask is that in AUS you are allowed teh whole lane if it is too dangerous to ride 1.0m off teh kerb face so i find it easier to take teh whole lane many cyclists will atest to this it is safer i assure you cars will take you alot more seriously
were you riding on a major highway (once again because it aus particularly in NSW its not allowed
other than that unfortunate but there needs to be some american lobby group like we have here that can organise protests lobby local members and such.

cheers



Hey there,

I am not sure who this was intended for but I do use very strong front and rear lights, helmet, and usually bright clothing. The first time I was hit I was wearing a white button up dress shirt, white dress pants, and sidi genius 4 road shoes =) great combo. It was mid day, 70 degrees F. partly cloudy with an azure sky. Perfect day for a job interview. The second was evening on July 3rd (the day of fireworks for July the 4th celebrations, and one of the most dangerous holidays because of drunk driving) I was wearing a bright yellow and red jersey, cycling shorts, and a dual 15/10 watt Halogen off road lighting system in front, and a Cat Eye 5 LED rear tail light (the long elipsoid one/best one).

The first time I was hit I was taking the right lane because of active parked cars, I heard a large truck behind me so I moved a little closer to the parked cars. A delivery van being driven by a 16 year old with a driving permit kicked the delivery van door open which caught my brake lever and pulled my body into the edge of the door, then the truck trying to pass me hit me from behind while I was in the air. The second time I was hit by an aggressive left turn comming from oncomming traffic sweeping past the rear of the car riding front and left of me. In both cases all vehicles involved in hitting me left the scene, and the boy's mother testified that she was driving the delivery van, when in fact she was not on the scene of the accident at all.

Both of these accidents result from taking chances on the road, I should have ignored the truck behind me and kept myself out of harms way. Just as the truck driver should have backed off as I was not safe to pass. The kid should have looked in his mirror, and/or opened his door with less than a kick, and finally the impatient left turner was too aggressive in his driving to maneuver through a dangerous "hole" in traffic. There are so many "little mistakes" that people make, and when they coincide terrible things can come of it. The consequences are not thought of until the accident happens, and then there are feelings of fear, guilt, blame-shift, which propell the guilty away from the scene. There is so much more to it then what I have written, just some semi conscious rambling reply to hopefully shed some light into accident prevention/prediction.
-Jacob

Well Jacob


youre listening to me but not really hearing me

okay fine your accidents were unfortunate but the outset of my post was to gather your thoughts and ask questions based on what i read.


this has been my problem with the cycling movement in general........


there has never been a standard of safety ever set in any country that i know of why its too hard to police and why is that not many enough people make enough noise. sure lights and bells and whistles and reflectrors dont ever help against drunk or reckless drivers but active political pressure does.
cycling and all the acccessories are too broad we can find a bike at walmart or kmart here in aus for 20 cents and then get out on the road and legally were considered cyclists its too broad if we were a vehicle theoritically we could go and buy a car with no doors and no lights and then get the thumbs up from the local law and if were in an accident were in trouble.
my point is i that i have none i really want to stress that it relies on you to push your own safety message if you feel that what you had on at teh time of the accident was enough then fine

the lane is/was yours moving over just creates the possibilty of further problems for yourself exit when safe then but at speed never negotiate into parked cars to let the vehicle pass from experience you will only ever become teh saying raock and a hard place

my intention is not cause any stress but it relies on us to push our own safety message politically and anywhere that a conversation arises where it involcves the worlds bloody cyclists........................


all the best